Hardwood Association on '76

By E. Howard Gatewood National Hardwood Lumber Association

Ttre lovalty of NHLA members

I stood tne test ol aoverse economlc conditions, as evidenced by a drop of only 2.3% in membership over the past trying fiscal year. The roster now stands at 1,379 member firms and has been growing since August.

For the first time in its 27-year history, our Inspection Training School in Memphis was not only self-sustaining, it actually showed a substantial excess of income over expense for the past fiscal year. We are now able to

Story at a Glance

Outlook is for slow and steady improvement . markets continue to ref lect increased preference for genuine hardwoods . . . shortages emerging in many species in better grades.

conduct three classes per year of only 14 weeks each. For the past year every one of the three classes has opened with a full complement of 50 students and the grades and competence of the graduates have not suffered from the shortened but more effective course.

The profusely illustrated Inspection Training Manual has proven not only a highly effective educational tool at the school, but also very popular with individual companies for training, brush-ups and as a reference. It is available to NHLA members at $5 and to others at $10 per copy.

After two years of operating the Hardwood Institute Division, NHLA is extremely pleased with the results secured by this promotional program in the United States and Canada. For the second successive year, every promotional goal was exceeded in the year ended August 3l , 191 5 .

The Hardwood Institute Division budget for 197 5-1 6 has been increased to $163,500, calling for increased goals in the consumer media and plugging

"now is a good time to buy home furnishingsi' Also included is an extensive program on behalf of hardwoods in the architectural market.

The Metric Task Force is expected to continue to show progress toward the goal of the metrication of the NHLA Rules Book. Extensive field testing of suggested changes will continue to be done by Chief Inspector Gordon Bullard to insure new rules which are easier to apply and completely equitable to both buyer and seller.

As this is written, there is ample evidence of a much improved market for hardwoods and reason to believe the demand will continue to increase steadily in the months ahead. The October Southern Furniture Market was a good one and continued to reflect the increased preference for genuine hardwoods. Already shortages are emerging in many species in the better grades, although lower grades need a further boost in the economy to up their requirements in pallets, containers and in the improving flooring market. All in all, the outlook is one of slow but steady improvement in 1976.